NIÑA ​ANINIAS

We faced one of our biggest fears in this day and age, our mobile Wi-Fi regardless of how expensive, just does not want to work good enough for him to do his job. I offered our guest a refund of sort for the trouble but he was so gracious and amazing that he worked within the means of whatever our unit can offer.

He still gave us a wonderful review, honest but still sweet. There goes our first review in AirBnB glory. We were up for so more. After a month I decided if I want to continue 5 star reviews, I have to invest in a reliable Wi-Fi, which I did. PLDT of course. Then came the cable TV, 85 channels, some of which are HD, we were on a roll.

You Gotta Invest Some to Earn SomeBills started pouring in but it's okay, guests were also pouring in. It has been a wonderful experience so far, hosting guests from different walks of life, different country, different preferences, it is just a continuous learning about everything. Customer service, reception, profit and loss, budgeting, you name it.

24/7Fast forward to now, six months after, Hermie (my childhood friend and our ever reliable Representative) and I work like clockwork. We never rest, if we are not checking in a guest or checking out a guest we are talking about what to change, what works, what doesn't, how to be more efficient. We use technology to our advantage. We joined Lights community for real-time updates, have support when needed on different areas. We are learning a lot and are enjoying every bit of it.

Frustrated DecoratorAs the day goes by however my passion for decor won't stop bugging me. It's increasing intensity is just driving me bananas. Some of it are good, it pushes me to be more creative and have a diversion from the hectic life of an HR. But when it comes to a point that I am awake at night, whatever remaining hours available to sleep is spent on Pinterest, Google research, Youtube, printed materials, it's time to do something about it.

Right, so I have a dilemma. Because of the current economic downturn, we didn't really receive the expected used-to-be bonus amount, we still receive but like a token of appreciation. No increase too like the previous years. So, I really have to live within my means. But how does that help me fix the condo unit that's been bugging me for awhile?

Shop around for contractor, look at the cost, where can I cut and which areas I just need to invest on.

I shopped, I studied, I draw the line, I cut on some areas, gave up some ideas and postpone some. I have to be realistic. On top of the additional mortgage, I'll have this extra expenses which I frankly don't know where I'll get but I strongly feel I can find a way.

The Lightbulb MomentThey say when you sleep is when your brain solves problems or issues you can't solve when you are conscious. One night after so many days of racking my brain, it hit me! Postpone an installment of my loan for a month, I checked the price I have to pay for postponing and weighed the value of what I'll gain... it's worth it.

I didn't waste time, the month before I applied for postponement, closed a deal with contractor, gave them my design preference and what I'm gunning for. Done.

I Always Look for the DifficultOne wonderful Saturday, while working on a project at work (my other life as an HR), I suddenly have a vision of more. I quickly went to research mode, calculations, basically preparing a pitch to my hubby.

I sat in Costa cafe in Ibn Battuta Mall from 10AM and by 9PM, I finished my presentation for work, coordinated the check-in for an incoming guest and checked on our current one while holding in my laptop a proposal and justification of why hubby should agree to go ahead with another investment.

I Propose, He Said YES!I showed him my research and how we can go about paying, timelines, and I must look like I'll start singing with glee, he asked, "you want it?". I whispered a scream "yes!". And he said, "go for it". And that my friends is what you call "unconditional love". My husband knows I'm crazy. He knows it's a huge risk. But because I have the look of crazy happy with gleaming eyes, he said GO FOR IT.

One of my many big dreams is to host more, in one place. Country style. Could be back home or somewhere tropical or somewhere with 4 seasons. I want our kids to have a legacy from us. Not a dead investment but an investment that will give them the tools to take on more investments and afford them a comfortable future.

We're Getting ThereMy dream evolves. I get inspired by people around, successful people, happy people, people going through hardships in life. I dream from my heart, I don't do what I do by copying others. I do what I do to tell my little me, "we're getting there".

Although, I can't have my full on country style abode right now but I sure want to start building my trademark.

"Something something by Nin-ya Aninias"

This was another one of those light-bulb moments. I have tons of those in a day, some are genius ideas, some are just plain crazy. Any idea that doesn't sound so crazy to be admitted to a sanitarium, I jot down in my idea book.

By this time, the little me's vision has evolved and grew in depth. A house is not yet in the horizon, a career in HR finally came but still need to work on a lot of things, the car came and it was the car that I wanted at the time though not what the little me saw in my dream.

The missed chanceOne vacation back home some long time ago, we were strolling inside my first love mall, Mega Mall (this mall brings back so much memory from high school until college days) and got approached by one of the agents about condo units being sold. It didn't fit the dream I had. I said no.

The slight poke of curiosityThen a colleague of mine, told me, over lunch, how he has so many condo units and he let me in a little secret on how he increased his units from one to many. I'm not 100% sold but I thought, I think I want one. A place of our own when we go home, not a bad idea. So the next vacay, I told hubby we should have one. Don't really know the bigger purpose why we should have one but it felt like we should. And so we did.

Long term payments make hubby jittery, so we get the condo over and done with in no time. Having the condo unit woke my House dream. And now felt like I can own a house somewhere else but it is best to have a house back home too. When will that be? I did not know.

The condo was handed over but since I had no plans about it, no purpose, it sat idle for more than a year.

The gatewayI got hired in my present company and I was surrounded by people who travel, a lot. Like seriously, a lot. Like on lunch breaks or coffee breaks, the topic is, where are you off to next break? It's not that it has to be big, it could be a wildlife reserve locally or nearby country but really the whole company likes to explore places with their family. My sleeping travel bug got awaken. My vision started seeing me and my family, exploring the world. And so I planned a big trip, it's our first big one and I intend to make it so memorable, it will warm my heart decades after.

A colleague introduced me to AirBnB (https://www.airbnb.com/r/ntamayo?s=8&i=) while a childhood friend introduced me to Rick Steves. We enjoyed our trip so much, it does still warms my heart when I think of how I managed to surprise my boys and hubby. Strange places, beautiful places, gorgeous food, friendly people. Priceless feeling.

Then it hit me. I should host guests, strangers, friends, family!

The unexpected surprise that breed more surprisesBefore we embarked in the last big trip of 2014 (it was big, New Year's Eve in New York City, Cali + cruise), we found out I was preggers. It was a super delicate pregnancy, one that nature was not supposed to allow due to my inhospitable uterus but preggers I was. My doctor ordered me to take it easy on all things. No heavy lifting, no house chores, no complicated exercise, go to work, go home and rest. That also means, no travel and it was not up for negotiation.

The good part is, the cruise returned all the payment, the ticket was not yet bought, the accommodations sorted out but I have all these money which I planned to splurge on. The best part is, I'm pregnant! Third child, the boat which I thought shipped 5 years ago! The boat the doctor said will never come back. I ached for another child but always told myself that it's for the best. ​Maybe I shouldn't waste it on some non-sense (which I tend to do when I have something in my hand). I started looking for properties. It's not yet my dream house but it could be the start. I don't want it to be too big to maintain and be empty 11 months in a year or possibly 23 months in 2 years. Knowing my husband, he likes green, a place with nature so definitely need a good size yard.

Destined to be...I saw potentials but it doesn't speak to me. Then I was catching up with a good friend of mine, fellow HR (she's kick ass than I could ever be) and she retold the story about typhoon Yolanda that devastated their hometown and that she has to relocate her family and she bought a house in Pampanga. I was so happy for her and told her that I'm also on the lookout. I was hoping I can get something from Villa del Sol. My family owns few plots there and I would be happy to own one too. Then she said, her place is in the same community and that an identical house to her might be for sale! Villa del Sol, the perfect space (not too big, not too small) and she as my neighbour?! How big a sign could it be?! My heartbeat was beating so fast I knew this is it.

I literally pester my friend to introduce me to the owner and bugged them non-stop until they give in. Signed on the dotted line and we all went back to work. Well I work on the changes I want with the house at night when everyone is asleep. I have files after files of paint colour, lights, door knobs, cabinet holders, tiles, bricks, a video of the wood being cut off, types of grass, types of A/C, shower heads, sinks, water closet, glass, the whole nine yards. It's not the dream house but it sure cannot look shabby, unless it is followed by chic. I poured my heart and soul into magazines, websites, TV shows, everything country and rustic.

These places call on to meI felt while I'm working on the Villa del Sol house, I was still hungry for more. So I went back to the community we visited ages ago when it was too far fetched to buy a vacant lot and started calling agents. Random. Risky. Did not care. It was such a gamble to commit to a property while you are miles and miles away. I told myself, if I get swindled, what to do. I will be poor for a few years but poor while Alex is still in high school, I can live with that. I signed the dotted line. Again.

What have I gotten myself into!So now I have two huge payments every month and for a year, hubby cannot know. I am practically penniless every month and hubby is just baffled but doesn't want to ask why.

SURPRISE!The big reveal was supposed to be on his birthday, 2015. Our trip got delayed so it was revealed on the month of my birthday instead, September. Didn't make much difference, there were tears of joy, lots of hugs and screaming kids running around looking at rooms.

I also confessed the other deed of buying a plot in Crosswinds Tagaytay. Maybe the dream house will be there, maybe somewhere else, but I cannot take the chance of not having it ready for building just in case.

Finally decided to rent out our Condo unit ala AirBnB awesomeness and so we got to work setting it up up to the last detail. Our Property Representative will coordinate the physical check-in and check-out of guests, setting up the place and I will handle coordination from thousands of miles away. Nerve wrecking at first. Our first guest was a Canadian Blogger. A professional traveler. We were scared shit. I was close to just letting him stay for free but I controlled my self and behaved like any professional host. Charged him for his stay.